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Friday, July 11, 2014

Vatican City, 11 July 2014 (VIS) –
The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and
Itinerant Peoples today published its message for World Tourism Day
2014. Organised by the World Tourism Organisation, its theme this
year is “Tourism and Community Development”. The message is
signed by Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio and Bishop Kalathiparambil,
respectively president and secretary of the dicastery.

The text, published below in full,
emphasises the link between community development with the concept of
full development characteristic of the social doctrine of the Church,
and highlights that human beings are the custodians, not the owners,
of creation. It refers to programmes for sustainable and ethical
tourism in disadvantaged areas and underlines the role that local
communities play in the defence and promotion of their natural and
cultural heritage, as well as the human and economic enrichment that
responsible tourism may offer to its protagonists, also favouring
values such a mutual respect and tolerance.

“1. Like every year, World Tourism
Day is celebrated on September 27. An event promoted annually by the
World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the theme for this year’s
commemoration is 'Tourism and Community Development'. Keenly aware of
the social and economic importance of tourism today, the Holy See
wishes to accompany this phenomenon from its own realm, particularly
in the context of evangelisation.

In its Global Code of Ethics, the UNWTO
says that tourism must be a beneficial activity for destination
communities: 'Local populations should be associated with tourism
activities and share equitably in the economic, social and cultural
benefits they generate, and particularly in the creation of direct
and indirect jobs resulting from them'. That is, it calls on both
realities to establish a reciprocal relationship, which leads to
mutual enrichment.

The notion of 'community development'
is closely linked to a broader concept that is part of the Church’s
Social Teaching, which is 'integral human development'. It is through
this latter term that we understand and interpret the former. In this
regard, the words of Pope Paul VI are quite illuminating. In his
Encyclical Populorum Progressio, he stated that 'the development we
speak of here cannot be restricted to economic growth alone. To be
authentic, it must be well rounded; it must foster the development of
each man and of the whole man'.

How tourism can contribute to this
development? To this end, integral human development and, thus,
community development in the field of tourism should be directed
towards achieving a balanced progress that is sustainable and
respectful in three areas: economic, social and environmental. By
'environmental', we mean both the ecological and cultural context.

2. Tourism is a key driver of economic
development, given its major contribution to GDP (between 3% and 5%
worldwide), employment (between 7% and 8% of the jobs) and exports
(30% of global exports of services).

At present, the world is experiencing a
diversification in the number of destinations, as anywhere in the
world has the potential to become a tourist destination. Therefore,
tourism is one of the most viable and sustainable options to reduce
poverty in the most deprived areas. If properly developed, it can be
a valuable instrument for progress, job creation, infrastructure
development and economic growth.

As highlighted by Pope Francis, we are
conscious that 'human dignity is linked to work', and as such we are
asked to address the problem of unemployment with 'the tools of
creativity and solidarity'. In that vein, tourism appears to be one
of the sectors with the most capacity to generate a wide range of
'creative' jobs with greater ease. These jobs could benefit the most
disadvantaged groups, including women, youth or certain ethnic
minorities.

It is imperative that the economic
benefits of tourism reach all sectors of local society, and have a
direct impact on families, while at the same time take full advantage
of local human resources. It is also essential that these benefits
follow ethical criteria that are, above all, respectful to people
both at a community level and to each person, and avoid 'a purely
economic conception of society that seeks selfish benefit, regardless
of the parameters of social justice'. No one can build his prosperity
at the expense of others.

The benefits of a tourism promoting
'community development' cannot be reduced to economics alone: there
are other dimensions of equal or greater importance. Among these
include: cultural enrichment, opportunities for human encounter, the
creation of 'relational goods', the promotion of mutual respect and
tolerance, the collaboration between public and private entities, the
strengthening of the social fibre and civil society, the improvement
of the community’s social conditions, the stimulus to sustainable
economic and social development, and the promotion of career training
for young people, to name but a few.

3. The local community must be the main
actor in tourism development. They must make it their own, with the
active presence of government, social partners and civic bodies. It
is important that appropriate coordination and participation
structures are created, which promote dialogue, make agreements,
complement efforts and establish common goals and identify solutions
based on consensus. Tourism development is not to do something 'for'
the community, but rather, 'with' the community.

Furthermore, a tourist destination is
not only a beautiful landscape or a comfortable infrastructure, but
it is, above all, a local community with their own physical
environment and culture. It is necessary to promote a tourism that
develops in harmony with the community that welcomes people into its
space, with its traditional and cultural forms, with its heritage and
lifestyles. And in this respectful encounter, the local population
and visitors can establish a productive dialogue which will promote
tolerance, respect and mutual understanding.

The local community should feel called
upon to safeguard its natural and cultural heritage, embracing it,
taking pride in it, respecting and adding value to it, so that they
can share this heritage with tourists and transmit it to future
generations.

Also, the Christians of that community
must be capable of displaying their art, traditions, history, and
moral and spiritual values, but, above all, the faith that lies at
the root of all these things and gives them meaning.

4. The Church, expert in humanity,
wishes to collaborate on this path towards an integral human and
community development, to offer its Christian vision of development,
offering 'her distinctive contribution: a global perspective on man
and human realities'.

From our faith, we can provide the
sense of the person, community and fraternity, solidarity, seeking
justice, of being called upon as stewards (not owners) of Creation
and, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, continue to collaborate
in Christ’s work.

Following what Pope Benedict XVI asked
of those committed to the pastoral care of tourism, we must increase
our efforts in order to 'shed light on this reality using the social
teaching of the Church and promote a culture of ethical and
responsible tourism, in such a way that it will respect the dignity
of persons and of peoples, be open to all, be just, sustainable and
ecological'.

With great pleasure, we note how the
Church has recognised the potential of the tourism industry in many
parts of the world and set up simple but effective projects.

There are a growing number of Christian
associations that organise responsible tourism to less developed
destinations as well as those that promote the so-called 'solidarity
or volunteer tourism' which enable people to put their vacation time
to good use on a project in developing countries.

Also worth mentioning are programs for
sustainable and equitable tourism in disadvantaged areas promoted by
Episcopal Conferences, dioceses or religious congregations, which
accompany local communities, helping them to create opportunities for
reflection, promoting education and training, giving advice and
collaborating on project design and encouraging dialogue with the
authorities and other groups. This type of experience has led to the
creation of a tourism managed by local communities, through
partnerships and specialised micro tourism (accommodation,
restaurants, guides, craft production, etc.).

Beyond this, there are many parishes in
tourist destinations that host visitors, offering liturgical,
educational and cultural events, with the hope that the holidays 'are
of benefit to their human and spiritual growth, in the firm
conviction that even in this time we cannot forget God who never
forgets us'. To do this, parishes seek to develop a 'friendly
pastoral care' which allows them to welcome people with a spirit of
openness and fraternity, and project the image of a lively and
welcoming community. And for this hospitality to be more effective,
we need to create a more effective collaboration with other relevant
sectors.

These pastoral proposals are becoming
more important, especially as a type of 'experiential' tourism grows.
This type of tourism seeks to establish links with local people and
enable visitors to feel like another member of the community,
participating in their daily lives, placing value on contact and
dialogue.

The Church’s involvement in the field
of tourism has resulted in numerous projects, emerging from a
multitude of experiences thanks to the effort, enthusiasm and
creativity of so many priests, religious and lay people who work for
the socio-economic, cultural and spiritual development of the local
community, and help them to look with hope to the future.

In recognition that its primary mission
is evangelisation, the Church offers its often humble collaboration
to respond to the specific circumstances of people, especially the
most needy. And this, from the conviction that 'we also evangelise
when we attempt to confront the various challenges which can arise'.”